Curious from those who have attended recently which courses were your favorites or were “not to be missed”?
Five years ago, my son went about choosing his freshman year courses in an interesting manner. He went through the Blue Book and Rate My Teacher to find professors that received a top score with comments from fellow students that basically said “This will be the BEST teacher you will have during your 4 years at Yale. Take whatever course they are teaching.” As a result, my son had a glorious freshman year, but if you looked at his freshman year transcript, there wasn’t a through-line, as everything was all over the map. I can’t remember what courses he took, but among the professors who taught those classes were Marvin Chun, Paul Bloom, Michael Frame, and Laurie Santos.
One of the reasons that DS selected Yale was to take Math 230. It was suggested that he might wait to take it, but he took it first semester. He didn’t really have the background for it (he wasn’t a math major and had no background in proof-based math), it kicked his butt, it affected how much time he had to socialize (I’ve heard that 20 hours on a pset is not unusual), but he was much stronger at math afterwards. He’s glad that he took it.
I would not recommend it except for those considering a math major. He would call it a “not to be missed” course for mathy types.
@gibby @IxnayBob
Thanks for sharing! Will certainly share with the kid.
He is math minded so he would enjoy the challenge of the math course. Currently is considering Statistics…
@IxnayBob How interesting. My daughter had the same experience with that same class and was told it was a “not to miss class” as well. She ended up dropping it because although she tested easily into it, there was too much she didn’t know going into it. She said the teacher was teaching to those that already knew the concepts. Math always came easy to her and as an OCD freshman, she could not handle the struggle and being new to the school at the same time. She is taking a completely different class this term and is killing it. She thinks she was just not suited for that teacher.
@tonymom - She would say that “Les-Gay” is the best class. She absolutely loves it. She was referred by lots of her friends and a handful are taking it with her. Although I think she said that this term is the last time its being taught by this teacher.
She also loved her American History class last term. So much that she asked her professor to be her advisor. But that may just be because she is a history nut.
@Memmsmom, DS stayed with it, and was, he thinks, between a B+ and A- So much for grade inflation, he got the B+ :)). Your D probably can understand why he considered that an accomplishment. He, as probably your daughter, had also, rocked Calc and DE in HS, but proof-based math was something absolutely new to him. He caught on, but it took a while. He did not do the second semester, which he might regret now that he’s decided to do a double major CS/Math, but c’est la vie. I think he will circle back and do the second semester this year or next.
@IxnayBob that is exactly what she said. She got her first quiz back and nearly passed out. It was also her first dose of Yale reality because that was when she realized that where at home she was top of her classes, here she was just an average student. She was very stuck in the “maintain a high gpa” belief that the last 4 years were made of. She dropped it so it wouldn’t affect her gpa. Sometimes I think that these kids need a class on how to adjust their mindset to these changes. She also thought that the pset that took forever must be a sign that she didn’t understand it. She is past that thinking now. LOL.
@Memmsmom, DS and I had more than one conversation about GPA. He had had non A grades in high school (ceramics and French were not his strong suit), but a B+ in a STEM course was something new.
He worried that his GPA was lower than his classmates and that it would affect his employment opportunities. I made the repeated argument that, except for law school and med school, which are sometimes entirely by the numbers, his opportunities would not be diminished by this one grade. I fell back on the mantra: “any employer who does not understand that a B+ in Math 230 is different than a B+ in Intro Basket Weaving is not an employer you want to work for.” He made a show of believing me, but I couldn’t help but notice that he didn’t take the second semester 
As these things so often work out, he made his peace with his imperfect GPA. And surprise, he’s gotten interest from elite employers even without a 4.0
ETA: I don’t know if your D mentioned it, but I think 230 might be the most dropped course. DS said they were physically cramped at the class beginning, but had room to stretch out not long afterwards. So, your D is in good company
@IxnayBob Yes, she also said that when she went to drop it, she was told that they tend to suggest really difficult math classes when you pretest high. She was so surprised she had so much trouble because math has always been so easy.
She had a tough time with grading her first year. She would get a 78 on something and be freaking out and in tears until she heard the class average was a 54. She swallowed a lot of ice cream and tears while her friends at state colleges talked of deans list and their perfect 4.0 - it was hard for her to process. I keep reminding her that its apples and oranges. You cannot compare the experiences, life and most of all gpa’s. They are not equal.
DS started referring to grades as below class median, at class median, or above class median.
I do the same thing. 
I talked to my S about Math 230 during the family weekend. He said that he will avoid that “suicide course” at all costs. Surely he has gathered enough grade and assignment information about the course.
My D did Math 230 and Directed Studies in her first year. Even with all the hours and less-than-perfect grades, she swore that these were the best experiences ever!
My kids really liked the Civil War class with David Blight (and it’s available for free online as well)